Could you possibly get something that cats don't like the smell of ... something that can easily be taken away at feeding time and then put back afterwards?

I'm sure there are products one can buy that are designed for the purposes of keeping cats out of gardens. A garden/DIY store might have some in stock.

There are also natural items that can be placed that have the same effect (dogs?) but I can't recall off the top of my head. Gardening lore isn't my forte. :P

Then again, I suppose there's always the risk that the kitties would permanently associate the bad smell with the counter and refuse to go near it to eat, period. Difficult dilemma ... sorry I can't be more helpful, I'm more used to hamster rearing than cat rearing I'm afraid.

Failing everything else, you could always ask 'em telepathically to keep off the counter til mealtime - or send a mental 'Oh no ya don't bub' if you see one heading for the worktop. Cats are very psychically receptive. ^_^

*nods* If we only had a FEW cats, it wouldn't be a problem... but because we have over 40 (I'm not joking either) they've taken over the whole upstairs section of the house. X.x Even my mom can't keep them from staying off the counters, and stovetop (we have an island) and dinner table. You kick them off, and they just jump right back up again.

This ONE cat in particular though, ALWAYS decides he wants to get to the food bowls, RIGHT when I need to use the counter. I SWEAR he does it on purpose, just to piss me off, and it works. >.< And no matter how many times I spray him with the water bottle, he keeps on doing it. It's just one of those things I can't really do much about. This is another reason I'm looking very forward to finally moving out in January. :-P